Tag Archives: civil rights

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Standing up to health care lies

06/10/2010 Nativegrl77


	June 10, 2010

Over the long fight for health care reform, Fox News has been a constant source of misinformation, distraction, and smears. We at Media Matters for America have spent more than a year cataloguing and correcting the errors and lies that have come from both the “opinion” side and the “news” side of Fox’s programming.

Donate today to help hold Fox News accountable.

In the past year, Fox News has shown that it is not a news network, it’s a political operation. And it threw every tactic and every lie it had against health insurance reform. In its attempt to “kill the bill,” Fox failed, thanks in part to the work Media Matters did in refuting Fox’s lies and exposing its agenda. We’ll keep up this fight on all the issues that matter to this country — and you can help.

Help us hold Fox News accountable — donate today.

Here are just a few of the ways Fox News lied, misled, and whipped up anti-health care activism over the past year:

Promoting terrifying myths about “death panels,” euthanasia, abortion, “government takeovers,” and doctors quitting the profession
Advancing false claims about the bill’s cost, deficit impact, CBO score, and tax impact
Reporting inaccurate claims of “corruption,” “special deals,” and rule-breaking in the legislative process
Allowing hosts and contributors such as Mike Huckabee, Glenn Beck, and Dick Morris to promote campaigns to call members of Congress in opposition to reform.

Fox is a full-time political operation, aimed at spreading misinformation, whipping up fear, and driving politics and policy to the right. We are working around the clock to fight back — and you can help.

Click here to contribute today.

Eric Burns
Media Matters for America

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Murkowski’s last stand

06/10/2010 Nativegrl77

Call your Senators and ask them to vote NO on Senator Murkowski’s Dirty Air Act.

Senator Cantwell: 202-224-3441
Senator Murray: 202-224-2621

Report your call here.

Today is a crucial day for your engagement. This afternoon, the Senate votes on Senator Lisa Murkowski’s “Dirty Air Act.”

This vote represents a clear choice: A choice between protecting the American people or padding the pockets of the oil companies; between supporting clean, renewable energy or digging ourselves deeper into fossil fuel dependence; between proven pollution control legislation or another big oil bailout.

As oil continues to gush into the Gulf, it’s essential that we defend the Clean Air Act and make sure our leaders side with the American people, not big oil.

Call your Senators and demand that they vote NO on Senator Murkowski’s attack on the Clean Air Act.

Your Senators can be reached at:

Senator Cantwell: 202-224-3441
Senator Murray: 202-224-2621

When you’ve made your call, please report it by clicking here.

Once you’re connected, remember to tell the staff member you’re speaking to that:

You’re a constituent
The Deepwater Oil Disaster is just further tragic proof that we need to take action now to reduce our dangerous dependence on oil and dirty fossil fuels.
Lisa Murkowski’s “Dirty Air Act” is exactly the wrong approach. Your Senator must side with the American people, not the oil companies, and vote NO.

Please, call your Senator right now and report your call here.

Thanks,

Maggie L. Fox
Chief Executive Officer
The Climate Protection Action Fund’s Repower America campaign

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

06/10/2010 Nativegrl77

BUSINESS — FORMER BUSH OFFICIAL JOSH BOLTEN ADVISING BP ON HOW TO ‘DEFEND ITS INTERESTS’ AND RESTORE ITS REPUTATION: Oil giant BP has embarked on an aggressive campaign to repair its public image in the wake of its disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It has repeatedly run full-page ads in major newspapers, retained high-powered lobbying and public relations firms, and launched a series of television ads with CEO Tony Hayward trying to apologize. The company even hired Anne Womack-Kolton, a former top aide to Vice President Cheney, to be its new spokesperson. Now, the London Times reports that former chief of staff to President Bush Josh Bolten is on BP’s team. Bolten is a member of an “international advisory board” assisting BP “to defend its interests against a fierce onslaught from the US Government.” Last week, President Obama excoriated BP for its lavish spending on public relations after the oil disaster. “My understanding is, is that BP has contracted for $50 million worth of TV advertising to manage their image during the course of this disaster,” the President said, adding, “And what I don’t want to hear is, when they’re spending that kind of money on their shareholders and spending that kind of money on TV advertising, that they’re nickel-and-diming fishermen or small businesses here in the Gulf who are having a hard time.”

thinkprogress.org

~ my 2cents ...

Thursday thoughts …&some News

06/10/2010 Nativegrl77

It’s day 52 of the BP oil disaster and though the reports state BP will start to expedite the payments, everyone needs to keep monitoring the effort so that they keep promises to the people. Today, the President will have families from the Gulf Coast oil disaster come to the White House and while it is a moment to give condolences to this families lets hope they take and record info to use later; hopefully BP will be held accountable sooner than later because the buzz going on is that BP will go bankrupt possibly stall paying the insurance claims and then leave… that’s a rumor but it can be a completely avoided reality if someone can get a hold of funds faster than we all are hearing on the airwaves …We all have seen those commercials that BP conjured up and you have to wonder who in their right mind would say oh yeah that makes sense… spend millions to say i’m sorry when you haven’t organized payments to the people whose living you have destroyed yet …oh but making BP look good is more important –it’s offensive and any station playing those commercials should stop and give that money to the victims of the Gulf Coast instead of being so self-serving… it just seems wrong to play those disparate attempts to make BP/Halliburton/TransOcean look better… it ain’t working.

In this great mess of oil; the push and pull of who did what to whom and why is so grade school. The part that is such an incredible disappointment to see politics get pushed into the fight. I wonder how the 1st nation peoples feel; and standing corrected the area is of diverse culture; i have relative there i know the Creole Cajuns, French, Spanish all have and still inhabit the area… and they didn’t own the land they used it and they kept it safe &healthy; their knowledge of how to use the Gulf not abuse it was a lesson current stewards didn’t learn or care to. We all know back in the day the Gulf Coast lands were pristine then were taken by folks who saw the money, the profit and have abused it and now have caused irreparable damage to a whole way of life started out by 1st nation peoples now almost everyone depends on the Gulf bed, the fishing industry, tourism and everything that makes money off them… people of the Gulf Coast will need to find other ways of making a living. The healing of the Marshes, the Wetlands and Estuaries will take years; hopefully the people there know they won’t be able to just get back out there and fish and or take shrimp and oysters from the Gulf and expect everything to be ok… there is a good possibility the food source will need to go through months or years of healing before humans can fish, trap and or net fresh without it being toxic.

Other News …

Earlier this week, President Obama told NBC that he had not yet talked to BP CEO Tony Hayward. ABC’s Jake Tapper reports that will change next week. White House officials say Obama is planning to say “a few words” to Hayward when he visits Washington, D.C. next week.

Following a meeting with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas yesterday, President Obama called “for sharply limiting Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip” and “announced a $400 million aid package for the West Bank and Gaza Strip.” “The key here is making sure that Israel’s security needs are met but that the needs of people in Gaza are also met,” said Obama.

“One day after the Security Council approved new sanctions against them,” Iranian authorities threatened “to revise their relationship with the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, using familiar language that has in the past presaged moves to limit global oversight of Iran’s nuclear program.” Iranian leaders also lashed out at China’s support for the sanctions, saying it would “affect its standing in the Muslim world.”

C-SPAN …

Conferees Begin Negotiations Toward a Final financial regulation bill

The House-Senate conference on financial regulation legislation formally meets today. Committee Chairman Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), along with other lawmakers, Read More »are tasked with reconciling the competing versions of the financial bills that passed each chamber. The committee plans to work for the next few weeks, with the hope that it will conclude by the time President Obama leaves for the G20 summit later this month.

Conference: C-SPAN3 at 2:15pm ET Reporter Interview on Conference Committee
C-SPAN Commits Full Coverage to Conference
The Hill: House names conferees

Mayors in affected areas describe oil spill impact

Local mayors are testifying in front of the Senate Homeland Security Committee to describe the extent of the damage and the challenges their communities are facing due to the Gulf oil spill. The committee aims to explore the planning that took place prior to the spill and the coordinated response efforts between federal, state and local governments. Congress is holding four hearings today on the oil spill to discuss a range of topics, including safety management, short and long term effects and potential environmental harm to humans. In his daily update, Adm. Thad Allen announced that yesterday BP collected 15,800 barrels of oil which he said continues a trend of capturing more oil each day.

Senate Hearing: NOW on c-span.org
AP: BP to start burning captured Gulf oil at sea
Adm. Allen Briefing: Yesterday LIVE Undersea ROV Cameras
The Times-Picayune oil spill coverage

Senate reviews deputy FBI director as head of TSA

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee held a hearing to review Pres. Obama’s third nominee for the head of TSA, John Pistole, a deputy FBI director. Pistole faced questions on airport security, intelligence coordination and terrorism. Another major issue of discussion was his views regarding collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), the top Republican on the committee, said “allowing screeners to collectively bargain could have dire consequences on the agency’s fundamental security mission.” Obama’s first nominee, Errol Southers of the FBI, withdrew in January, blaming critics motivated by “political ideology” for the troubles surrounding his nomination. The second nominee, Maj. Gen. Robert Harding, withdrew in March, citing “distractions caused by my work as a defense contractor would not be good for this Administration nor the Department of Homeland Security.”

TSA Hearing: From Earlier
Transportation Security Administration
Senate Committee on Transportation

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

what’s going on in Congress today

06/10/2010 Nativegrl77

The Senate Convenes: 9:30amET June 10, 2010

EPA/Green House Gas Emission/Clean Air Act -possible votes

Following any leader remarks, the Senate will turn to the motion to proceed to S.J.Res. 26, a joint resolution disapproving a rule submitted by the EPA relating to the endangerment finding and the cause or contributing findings for greenhouse gases. There will be 6 hours for debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Boxer and Murkowski, or their designees. The time beginning at 9:45am will be controlled in 30 minute alternating blocks of time, with Senator Murkowski controlling the first block of time.

If all time is used, the vote on the motion to proceed to S.J.Res, 26 would occur at approximately 3:45pm.

If the motion is successful, there would be up to 1 hour for debate prior to a vote on the joint resolution.

Votes:
184: Motion to Proceed to S.J.Res. 26, a joint resolution disapproving a rule submitted by the EPA relating to the endangerment finding and the cause or contributing findings for greenhouse gases;
Not Agreed To: 47-53

Unanimous Consent:
Passed H.R.3360 the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (with a Rockefeller substitute amendment)

Adopted S.Res.550, a resolution designating the week beginning on June 14, 2010 and ending on June 18, 2010, as “National Health Information Technology Week”

The Senate confirmed the following nominations:

Calendar #932–Coast Guard promotions to Rear Admiral:

– Rear Adm. (1h) Joseph R. Castillo;
– Rear Adm. (1h) Daniel R. May;
– Rear Adm. (1h) Roy A. Nash;
– Rear Adm. (1h) Peter F. Neffenger;
– Rear Adm. (1h) Charles W. Ray;
– Rear Adm. (1h)Keith A. Taylor;

– Secretary’s Desk–promotions in Coast Guardand NOAA

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 10:00amET June 10, 2010

FHA Mortgage/Premiums/cont forbearance for victims of Chinese dry wall /Amendment was agreed to –Republicans against the cap/tax

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JUNE 10, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

H.R. 5072:: to improve the financial safety and soundness of the FHA mortgage insurance program

2:22 P.M. –

On passage Roll Call 353 – Recorded vote pending.On agreeing to the Frank (MA) amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

Amendment offered by Mr. Frank (MA).

2:21 P.M. –

On motion to recommit with instructions Agreed to by voice vote.The previous question was ordered without objection.

2:13 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lee (NY) motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to report the same back to the House with an amendment to 1.) prohibit mortgage insurance for borrowers with strategic defaults; and 2.) prohibit bailout of FHA program with taxpayer dollars.

2:12 P.M. –

Mr. Lee (NY) moved to recommit with instructions to Financial Services.

The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

2:11 P.M. –

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 5072.

2:10 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Maffei amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: (Roll No. 352).

2:04 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Edwards (TX) amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: (Roll No. 351).

1:57 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Turner amendment Failed by recorded vote: (Roll No. 350).

1:50 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Price (GA) amendment Failed by recorded vote: (Roll No. 349).

1:40 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Garrett (NJ) amendment Failed by recorded vote: (Roll No. 348).

1:28 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Waters amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: (Roll No. 347).

1:00 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Maffei amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Maffei demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

12:59 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Maffei.

: An amendment numbered 13 printed in House Report 111-503 to state that no funds authorized under the act may be used to pay the salary of an employee who has been officially disciplined for viewing, downloading, or exchanging pornography (including child pornography) on a Federal Government computer or while performing official Federal Government duties.

12:55 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Edwards amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Edwards demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

12:52 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1424, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Edwards amendment.

12:51 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Edwards (TX).

: An amendment numbered 12 printed in House Report 111-503 to require individuals to certify that they have not been convicted of a sex offense against a minor in order to get an FHA mortgage.

On agreeing to the Nye amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

12:48 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1424, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Nye amendment.

12:47 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Nye.

: An amendment numbered 11 printed in House Report 111-503 to instruct the Federal Housing Administration to continue the Special Forbearance program, as it relates to Chinese Drywall, until the end of FY 2011.

On agreeing to the Clarke amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

12:43 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1424, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Clarke amendment.

12:42 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Ms. Clarke.

: An amendment numbered 10 printed in House Report 111-503 to direct the GAO to include in its FHA report an analysis on the effectiveness of HUD’s loss mitigation home retention options in assisting individuals, particularly low income borrowers, in avoiding home foreclosure for mortgages.

12:41 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Turner amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Turner demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

12:30 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1424, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Turner amendment.Amendment offered by Mr. Turner.

: An amendment numbered 9 printed in House Report 111-503 to repeal the emergency authority that allows the FHA to insure loans up to $720,000 in certain high cost areas. The amendment would create a maximum loan limit of $500,000 for a single family unit and a percentage of the same ratio for 2-, 3- or 4-family residences.

On agreeing to the Weiner amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

12:24 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1424, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Weiner amendment.Amendment offered by Mr. Weiner.

: An amendment numbered 8 printed in House Report 111-503 to increase loan limits for the construction or rehabilitation of multifamily housing with elevators including rentals, cooperatives, condominiums to ensure that they represent today’s construction costs. Would create an `extremely high cost area’ category for FHA Multifamily Insurance for those areas, similar to those in Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands.

12:23 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Price (GA) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Price (GA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

12:12 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1424, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Price (GA) amendment.

12:11 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Price (GA).

: An amendment numbered 7 printed in House Report 111-503 to cap the number of mortgages the FHA can issue to 10% of total loans originated in the U.S. each year. Within 90 days of enactment, FHA must submit a plan to Congress to roll back FHA market share to 10% of loans originated each year by 2012.

On agreeing to the Tierney amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

12:04 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1424, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Tierney amendment.

12:03 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Tierney.

: An amendment numbered 6 printed in House Report 111-503 to direct the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide mortgage insurance premium refunds to eligible borrowers of FHA insured loans, which were closed prior to December 8, 2004, but which were not endorsed until December 8, 2004 or after that date, and; (2) authorize such sums as may be necessary for such refunds.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Garrett (NJ) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Garrett (NJ) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

11:50 A.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1424, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Garrett (NJ) amendment.Amendment offered by Mr. Garrett (NJ).

: An amendment numbered 5 printed in House Report 111-503 to raise the FHA down payment requirement from 3.5% to 5% and prohibit closing costs from being rolled in as well.

11:49 A.M. –

On agreeing to the Bean amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

11:42 A.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1424, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Bean amendment.Amendment offered by Ms. Bean.

: An amendment numbered 4 printed in House Report 111-503 to require HUD to submit an annual report to Congress discussing proposed or actual increases in the minimum cash investment requirements (downpayment requirements) in the FHA program. It further gives HUD the authority to establish higher minimum cash investment requirements for all or class(es) of borrowers and requires HUD to take into consideration the findings of the annual report.

11:41 A.M. –

On agreeing to the Cao amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

11:38 A.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1424, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cao amendment.

11:37 A.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Cao.

: An amendment numbered 3 printed in House Report 111-503 to include information about credit risk and financial counseling services to mortgagors in addition to the housing and loan modification information currently included in the bill.

On agreeing to the Cardoza amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

11:31 A.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1424, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cardoza amendment.Amendment offered by Mr. Cardoza.

: An amendment numbered 2 printed in House Report 111-503 to prioritize foreclosure counseling services to areas of the country that have been the hardest-hit by the housing crisis.

11:30 A.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Waters amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Waters demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

11:26 A.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1424, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Waters amendment.Amendment offered by Ms. Waters.

: An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 111-503 to provide for various technical corrections, make modifications to the GAO report in section 15 of the bill, provide that the Secretary may increase loan limits for micropolitan counties surrounded by higher cost areas and experiencing significant growth, and address documentation standards for FHA loans.

11:25 A.M. –

The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.Considered as unfinished business.

S. 3473:: to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to authorize advances from Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

11:24 A.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

10:28 A.M. –